Download Adverb of Manner

Adverb of Manner
(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)
These adverbs are put behind the direct object (or behind the verb if there's no direct object).
subject verb(s) direct object
He
He
drove
drove
the car
adverb
carefully.
carefully.
Exercise on adverbs of manner
ADVERBS OF MANNER
Adverbs of manner tell us how something happens. They are usually placed either after the main verb or after
the object.
EXAMPLES
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He swims well.
He ran quickly.
She spoke softly.
James coughed loudly to attract her attention.
He plays the flute beautifully. (after the direct object)
He ate the chocolate cake greedily. (after the direct object)
An adverb of manner cannot be put between a verb and its direct object. The adverb must be placed either
before the verb or at the end of the clause.
EXAMPLES
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He ate greedily the chocolate cake. [incorrect]
He ate the chocolate cake greedily. [correct]
He greedily ate the chocolate cake. [correct]
He gave us generously the money. [incorrect]
He gave us the money generously. [correct]
He generously gave us the money. [correct]
If there is a preposition before the verb's object, you can place the adverb of manner either before the
preposition or after the object.
EXAMPLES
 The child ran happily towards his mother.
 The child ran towards his mother happily.
Adverbs of manner should always come immediately after verbs which have no object (intransitive verbs).
EXAMPLES
 The town grew quickly after 1997.
 He waited patiently for his mother to arrive.
These common adverbs of manner are almost always placed directly after the verb: well, badly, hard, & fast
EXAMPLES
 He swam well despite being tired.
 The rain fell hard during the storm.
The position of the adverb is important when there is more than one verb in a sentence. If the adverb is placed
before or after the main verb, it modifies only that verb. If the adverb is placed after a clause, then it modifies the
whole action described by the clause. Notice the difference in meaning between the following sentences.
Example
Meaning
She quickly agreed to re-type the letter.
the agreement is quick
She agreed quickly to re-type the letter.
the agreement is quick
She agreed to re-type the letter quickly.
the re-typing is quick
He quietly asked me to leave the house.
the request is quiet
He asked me quietly to leave the house.
the request is quiet
He asked me to leave the house quietly.
the leaving is quiet
LITERARY USAGE
Sometimes an adverb of manner is placed before a verb + object to add emphasis.
EXAMPLES
 He gently woke the sleeping woman.
 She angrily slammed the door.
Some writers put an adverb of manner at the beginning of the sentence to catch our attention and make us
curious.
EXAMPLES
 Slowly she picked up the knife.
 Roughly he grabbed her arm.
Adverbs of Place
(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)
Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put behind the direct object or the verb.
subject
I
He
verb(s)
direct object adverb
didn't see him
stayed
here.
behind.
Exercise on adverbs of place
ADVERBS OF PLACE
Adverbs of place tell us where something happens. They are usually placed after the main verb or after the
clause that they modify. Adverbs of place do not modify adjectives or other adverbs.
EXAMPLES
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John looked around but he couldn't see the monkey.
I searched everywhere I could think of.
I'm going back to school.
Come in!
They built a house nearby.
She took the child outside.
HERE AND THERE
Here and there are common adverbs of place. They give a location relative to the speaker. With verbs of
movement, here means "towards or with the speaker" and there means "away from, or not with the speaker".
Sentence
Meaning
Come here!
Come towards me.
The table is in here.
Come with me; we will go see it together.
Put it there.
Put it in a place away from me.
The table is in there. Go in; you can see it by yourself.
Here and there are combined with prepositions to make many common adverbial phrases.
EXAMPLES
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What are you doing up there?
Come over here and look at what I found!
The baby is hiding down there under the table.
I wonder how my driver's license got stuck under here.
Here and there are placed at the beginning of the sentence in exclamations or when emphasis is needed. They
are followed by the verb if the subject is a noun or by a pronoun if the subject is a pronoun.
EXAMPLES
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Here comes the bus!
There goes the bell!
There it is!
Here they are!
ADVERBS OF PLACE THAT ARE ALSO PREPOSITIONS
Many adverbs of place can also be used as prepositions. When used as prepositions, they must be followed by
a noun.
Word
Used as an adverb of place, modifying a verb
Used as a preposition
around The marble rolled around in my hand.
I am wearing a necklace around my neck.
behind Hurry! You are getting behind.
Let's hide behind the shed.
down
Mary fell down.
John made his way carefully down the cliff.
in
We decided to drop in on Jake.
I dropped the letter in the mailbox.
off
Let's get off at the next stop.
The wind blew the flowers off the tree.
on
We rode on for several more hours.
Please put the books on the table.
over
He turned over and went back to sleep.
I think I will hang the picture over my bed.
ADVERBS OF PLACE ENDING IN -WHERE
Adverbs of place that end in -where express the idea of location without specifying a specific location or
direction.
EXAMPLES
 I would like to go somewhere warm for my vacation.
 Is there anywhere I can find a perfect plate of spaghetti around here?
 I have nowhere to go.
 I keep running in to Sally everywhere!
ADVERBS OF PLACE ENDING IN -WARDS
Adverbs of place that end in -wards express movement in a particular direction.
EXAMPLES
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Cats don't usually walk backwards.
The ship sailed westwards.
The balloon drifted upwards.
We will keep walking homewards until we arrive.
Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun.
EXAMPLES
 He walked towards the car.
 She ran towards me.
ADVERBS OF PLACE EXPRESSING BOTH MOVEMENT & LOCATION
Some adverbs of place express both movement & location at the same time.
EXAMPLES
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The child went indoors.
He lived and worked abroad.
Water always flows downhill.
The wind pushed us sideways.
Adverbs of Time
(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)
Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.
subject verb(s) indirect object direct object
I
will tell you
the story
time
tomorrow.
If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of the
sentence.
time
Tomorrow
subject verb(s) indirect object
I
will tell you
direct object
the story.
Exercise on adverbs of time
ADVERBS OF TIME
Adverbs of time tell us when an action happened, but also for how long, and how often.
ADVERBS THAT TELL US WHEN
Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
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Goldilocks went to the Bears' house yesterday.
I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.
I saw Sally today.
I will call you later.
I have to leave now.
I saw that movie last year.
Putting an adverb that tells us when at the end of a sentence is a neutral position, but these adverbs can be put
in other positions to give a different emphasis. All adverbs that tell us when can be placed at the beginning of the
sentence to emphasize the time element. Some can also be put before the main verb in formal writing, while
others cannot occupy that position.
EXAMPLES
 Later Goldilocks ate some porridge. (the time is important)
 Goldilocks later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a policeman's report)
 Goldilocks ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular emphasis)
ADVERBS THAT TELL US FOR HOW LONG
Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
 She stayed in the Bears' house all day.
 My mother lived in France for a year.
 I have been going to this school since 1996.
In these adverbial phrases that tell us for how long, for is always followed by an expression of duration,
while since is always followed by an expression of a point in time.
EXAMPLES
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I stayed in Switzerland for three days.
I am going on vacation for a week.
I have been riding horses for several years.
The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.
I have not seen you since Monday.
Jim has been working here since 1997.
There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.
ADVERBS THAT TELL US HOW OFTEN
Adverbs that tell us how often express the frequency of an action. They are usually placed before the main verb
but after auxiliary verbs (such as be, have, may, & must). The only exception is when the main verb is "to be", in
which case the adverb goes after the main verb.
EXAMPLES
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I often eat vegetarian food.
He never drinks milk.
You must always fasten your seat belt.
I am seldom late.
He rarely lies.
Many adverbs that express frequency can also be placed at either the beginning or the end of the sentence,
although some cannot be. When they are placed in these alternate positions, the meaning of the adverb is much
stronger.
Adverb that can be used in two
positions
Stronger position
Weaker position
frequently
I visit France frequently.
I frequently visit France.
generally
Generally, I don't like spicy foods. I generally don't like spicy foods.
normally
I listen to classical
music normally.
I normally listen to classical music.
occasionally
I go to the opera occasionally.
I occasionally go to the opera.
often
Often, I jog in the morning.
I often jog in the morning.
regularly
I come to this museum regularly.
I regularly come to this museum.
sometimes
I get up very early sometimes.
I sometimes get up very early.
Adverb that can be used in two
positions
Stronger position
usually
I enjoy being with children usually. I usually enjoy being with children.
Weaker position
Some other adverbs that tell us how often express the exact number of times an action happens or happened.
These adverbs are usually placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
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This magazine is published monthly.
He visits his mother once a week.
I work five days a week.
I saw the movie seven times.
USING YET
Yet is used in questions and in negative sentences to indicate that something that has not happened or may not
have happened but is expected to happen. It is placed at the end of the sentence or after not.
EXAMPLES
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Have you finished your work yet? (= simple request for information)
No, not yet. (= simple negative answer)
They haven't met him yet. (= simple negative statement)
Haven't you finished yet? (= expressing surprise)
USING STILL
Still expresses continuity. In positive sentences it is placed before the main verb and after auxiliary verbs such
as be, have, might, will. If the main verb isto be, then place still after it rather than before. In questions, still goes
before the main verb.
EXAMPLES
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She is still waiting for you.
Jim might still want some.
Do you still work for the BBC?
Are you still here?
I am still hungry.
ORDER OF ADVERBS OF TIME
If you need to use more than one adverb of time in a sentence, use them in this order:
1: how long 2: how often 3: when
EXAMPLES
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1 + 2 : I work (1) for five hours (2) every day
2 + 3 : The magazine was published (2) weekly (3) last year.
1 + 3 : I was abroad (1) for two months (3) last year.
1 + 2 + 3 : She worked in a hospital (1) for two days (2) every week (3) last year.
Adverbs of Frequency
(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)
Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the main verb. If 'be' is the main verb and there is no auxiliary verb,
adverbs of frequency are put behind 'be'. Is there an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of frequency are put
before 'be'.
subject auxiliary/be adverb
I
He
We
I
doesn't
are
have
main verb
often
go swimming
always play
usually
never been
object, place or time
in the evenings.
tennis.
here in summer.
abroad.
Adverbs of Frequency
With the present simple, we often use adverbs of frequency to say 'how often' we do something.
Here's a list of common adverbs:
always
frequently
generally
hardly ever
infrequently
never
normally
occasionally
often
rarely
regularly
seldom
sometimes
usually
We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the verb:
I often go to the cinema.
She sometimes visits me at home.
We usually drink coffee.
We can also put them at the very beginning or end of the sentence. This makes them stronger:
Often I go to the cinema.
I go to the cinema often.
But never: I go often to the cinema.
Here are some other expressions we can use to say 'how often'. All of these longer phrases go
at the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.
once in a while: I go to the cinema once in a while.
every now and again: She drinks wine every now and again.
from time to time: From time to time I visit my mother.
To say how often something happens, you can use a number or 'several' or 'many', followed by
'times'.( If the number is one, use 'once' instead of 'one time'. If the number is two use 'twice,'
instead of 'two times') Then add 'a' and a period of time:
I go to the cinema twice a week.
She takes these tablets three times a day.
I change the sheets once a fortnight (fortnight = two weeks).
I meet him several times a year.
I visit my parents once a month.
We can also use 'every' + period of time:
every morning
every day
every Tuesday
every week
every month
A day of the week with 's' at the end (for example 'on Tuesdays') means the same as 'every
Tuesday':
I take a dance class on Wednesdays.
I relax on Saturdays.